Young workers need more safety advice

Young workers receive very little guidance about health and safety, according to a new report published by the HSE. And the HSE will need to make special provisions if the message is to be understood, its author says.

The report, Young People's Attitudes to Health and Safety at Work 2002, by Balraj Sreenivasan, analyses the attitudes of workers aged 16-22 towards health and safety. It found that none of the young workers interviewed were taught about health and safety at school and none were aware of any HSE leaflets.

Most said their employers had not informed them of the risks health and safety at work. One respondant said: "No, my boss is more worried about work than doing any of that." The advice and training they had received was mainly informal, and largely concerned the wearing of personal protective equipment.

The report concludes that the HSE needs to introduce specific targeted guidance, such as interactive training packages and bright logos, to get the attention of young workers.

The report is available free from www.hse.gov.uk